Latest Superstrat build

[demonx]

The new tool for my new range of guitars arrived today - I've been telling the missus that when it arrives I'm branding her arse!

This superstrat build will be the first build to get "branded" by the iron as opposed to an inlay or decal!

[slowlearner]

Awesome! Love a good branding.

[demonx]

Haven't had much time for building lately, spent a day hanging the room air filters I picked up last week and I've been busy trying to get the majority of the workshop setup with overhead power so I'm not untangling power chords all the time. So far so good. On top of all that, I've had to move half the whole workshop to the side so that on Thursday a forklift can come unload and position a new twin drum sander I bought.

Anyway, heres the latest video installment.

Part 7: Fret level, crowning, polishing and cleaning up the fingerboard

http://youtu.be/iSJ1t_tlBUE

[demonx]

Sanded and waiting for its first lot of finish:

[demonx]

Today was another shop upgrade day. Picked up a second hand twin drum sander.

When I say second hand, I was told an old guy bought it, got it home, used it a couple times and realised he needed a thickneser, so it was returned to the shop. Shop owner can no longer sell it as new, so I picked up a bargain as he needed it out of his way!

Problem was moving the thing, I had to hire a forklift!



I was informed by the dealer it's best to leave these on the skid as they're too hard to move otherwise, so on the skid it'll stay.



Inside - I'll need to invest in some rolls of paper. I have them on order, just haven't arrived yet.

[demonx]

Part 8:

http://youtu.be/xIoAQrLLo1U

[demonx]

More oil:

[demonx]

No new videos or pics of this particular guitar as it's just hanging around while the oil hardens up, but here is a pic of some others I've got in the works at the moment that are similar.

All of them are African Mahogany the same as the video guitar in exception of #5 which has Black Walnut wings.

[colburge]

Looks great Allan, what exactly is that black stain /oil which you are using?

Col

[demonx]

Danish oil over Black furniture stain.

I did test pieces to see how it would react and it seems to work well.

When the customer asked for that I was worried the oil would lift the stain and it'd rub all over the player, but it seems I was wrong. Both the test pieces and now the guitar itself seem very stable

[colburge]

Danish oil over Black furniture stain.

I did test pieces to see how it would react and it seems to work well.

When the customer asked for that I was worried the oil would lift the stain and it'd rub all over the player, but it seems I was wrong. Both the test pieces and now the guitar itself seem very stable

Thanks mate, I will give that technique a crack with black stain and tru-oil when I make my first electric.

Love your work by the way, you have built some fantastic guitars, very inspirational.

Col

[demonx]

It's nowhere near the quslity finish of a good 2k clear coat, but its much less labor intensive which means cheaper for the customer

[demonx]

Part 9:

http://youtu.be/hvf6noPFdBs

[demonx]

Got a few strings on this one finally:

[demonx]

A natural version without the top carve:

Snapped some pics today:

[Kev3]

Nice lines, great execution and gorgeous use of timbers Allan,
easily enough to convert me to the dark side of solid bodied electrics
Need a Like button for the forum

cheers

[demonx]

Cut from the same planks as the one above, here is a single pickup version I just finished up today:

I used a slightly darker grainfiller on this one, gives it a more earthy look. It's only a very slight tint difference but makes a big difference in the finish item.

[demonx]

Another one setup today and new photo's.

This time it's Davids (#3) SS7 - 26.125" scale - 666 scale in metric! It's actually 663, but since I move my bridges back 3mm it's really 666! I never even planned it, just works out that way

[GregL]

Hi Allan,

They all look nice! What are the pickups on Davids (#3) SS7? They sort-of look like a seven-string version of mini humbuckers?

Thanks,
GregL.

[demonx]

Hi Allan,

They all look nice! What are the pickups on Davids (#3) SS7? They sort-of look like a seven-string version of mini humbuckers?

Thanks,
GregL.

Those pickups are Bareknuckle Painkillers, a pure heavy metal pickup.

The pickups in the pic below (Chris) is a Bareknuckle Warpig, definitely a heavy metal pickup only!

Chris just picked up his Warhorse!

[sprocket]

Thanx for sharing mate , your guitars are killers !

Like your fretboard jig in there . Keep it on .

[demonx]

Which jig?

If you're referring to the sliding mitre saw fret slotter, I've actually given that to my brother and rebuilt it with a radial arm saw. Much more rigid and better finish. The mitre saw has too much flex

[sprocket]

Hey , sorry , it was on the end of Video 2 & @ the begining of vid 3 of this thread , the other jig s cool also .

[Nick]

Out of all of these I like the first natural (with the visible poles on both humbuckers), not that the others are horrible! Just seeing that extra row of poles just seems to balance things up for me some how The Timber looks nicely "highlighted" by the black hardware & the logo sits in with the theme.
I can't make out the brand name on the bridge (is it Wilkinson?) but that's a serious lump of bridge! It's amazing how just adding an extra string can change the visual ratios of things. Nice job

[demonx]

The bridges are "kahler"

Whatever the average price of a wilkenson, throw on a zero and you've got kahler! Maybe an exaggeration but you get the point!

Seven strings opposed to six, it took me a long time to come around to sevens. At first I resisted them, then I gave in and built a few. These days I make more sevens than anything. Once I got used to them I now play seven as my go to choice. Anything less feels inadequate. It also feels weird making a six after doing mostly sevens. Coming January it looks like I'll be building another eight as well just to mix it up. Eights I'm still not used to. The neck is basically the same widths as a five string bass if that gives you an idea what they're like.